When Saint Vladimir was 28 years old, he fell ill. At that time, his son Boris was far away. Upon returning, Boris learned of his father’s death. His brother Svyatopolk had hidden the body of their father. Grieving deeply, Boris hoped to receive support from his brother.
However, Svyatopolk, filled with envy, decided to have Boris killed. He summoned some men of Vyshgorod and ordered them to assassinate him. Saint Boris, unwilling to oppose his brother, remained obedient to his commands. On a Saturday, while praying, he sensed that the day of his death was near. The murderers came to him, and despite his prayers and tears, they pierced him with spears.
While dying, Saint Boris prayed to God to forgive his murderers and to grant peace to his brother. His body was secretly buried in Vyshgorod. But Svyatopolk, unrepentant for his crime, continued his reign of terror until he was eventually defeated by Yaroslav, the brother of Boris and Gleb.
Saint Gleb, upon hearing the news of Boris’s death, was overcome with grief. Soon he too became a victim of Svyatopolk’s envy. While sailing in a boat, he was murdered, and his body was left in a deserted place. Later, when Yaroslav took the throne, he found the bodies of his holy brothers and transferred them with great honor to Vyshgorod.
Their relics remained incorrupt, and many miracles were performed through them. Saint Boris and Saint Gleb are glorified as the first martyrs of the Russian Church.
